Saw table vise



Dec. 17,1935. G g WALL,N 2,024,317

SAW TABLE VI SE Filed July 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

17 Fag. 8.

III/ll/AVA 8B G.E.Wallin I G. E. WALLIN SAW TABLE VISE Dec. 17, 1935.

Filed July 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 17, 1935 lll iiTE. YATES This invention relates to printers accessories and more particularly to a vise or work holding means employed during a cutting and trimming of printers type-slugs and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a readily adjustable vise jaw having a clamping lever which may be swung for clamping work between the jaws of the vise, one jaw of the latter being provided by the adjustable gauge conventional to printers saw tables.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rigid pressure bar having a comparatively thin vertically disposed terminal end and provided with a horizontally disposed portion so arranged that work or linotype slugs may be firmly grasped between the same and an oppositely disposed jaw of the vise whereby squarecuts may be made to linotype slugs in instances where the latter are either of plain or ribbed characteristics.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the tension of a spring employed in conjunction with a slidable vise jaw for the overall purpose of regulating the degree of pressure upon work or type-slugs positioned between the jaws of the vise so that the work is not mutilated through clamping operations incident to sawing and trimming operations.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the follow ing detailed description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

As heretofore practiced in the art printers saw table vises have been provided which utilize worm screws or ratchet mechanisms for clamping work between the jaws of the vise after the latter have been initially or approximately adjusted, said mechanisms not only being difficult and slow in operation but also after a certain amount of use wearing to such an extent that the eiliciency thereof is substantially destroyed necessitating replacement of parts with attendant labor and expense and the instant'inventio-n also contemplates the provision of means whereby certain heretoforeattained results of the prior art are accomplished in a more facile and economical manner than heretofore.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a sac. -table having thereon a work holding vise embodying the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the vise, showing in 2. released position the clamping means for a sliding jaw-bar employed.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the parts in locked position with respect to work placed between the jaws of the vise.

the invention is illustrated in connection with a printer's saw or trimmer of well-known type in which the circular saw blade 18- is vertically disposed and revolves about a horizontal axis, one 15 face of the saw being closely disposed adjacent to the side of a sliding saw-table top I l which is movable horizontally along suitable guide ways parallel to the plane of the saw. At the rear end of said top is a gauge l2 of which the forward 0 transversely disposed face i3 is normally at a right angle to the longitudinal edge I4 of the table top H, adjoining the saw l6. An end gauge I5 is mounted on the gauge 52 and has a face 16 extending parallel with the edge M of the table, 25 said end gauge being adjustable along the gauge 52 to desired distances from the plane of the saw Ill. Such saw-tables are well known in the prior art and the work holding Vises employed in conjunction therewith are removably mounted on the rear portion of the sliding table top I i, adjoining the right-hand longitudinal edge M of the table.

The invention includes an elongated base portion I? which rests upon the table II and in operation is secured thereto by means of a dowel I8 and screw IS. The dowel l8 extends vertically through the rear end 29 of the base I1, being secured thereto by a set screw 2! and the lower portion of the dowel being adapted to fit within an opening therefor formed. in the table top H.

A cross pin 22 extends horizontally to intersect one side of the opening in the table top and the dowel l8 has at the lower end thereof a hook portion 23 adapted to extend beneath said cross pin 22 to prevent lifting of the base l1 when the latter is in operating position upon the table. By swinging of the base I! about the vertical axis of the dowel, the hook portion 23 is disengaged from the cross pin to enable withdrawal of the dowel when removing the vise from the table, or insertion of the dowel in the opening when attaching the device to the table.

At one side of the base 11 near the forward end thereof is a notch 24 through which the screw [9 extends into a suitable threaded opening therefor in the table top H. Said screw l9 has an extended head portion 25 provided with sliding cross rod 26 which may be grasped for turning the screw and the head portion of the screw is integral with its main body portion 2? which is of greater diameter than the threaded portion l9 thereof and adapted to bear upon the top surface of the elongated base portion H, the arrangement being such that by turning the screw the threaded portion thereof may pass through the notch 24 while the base is swung about the axis of the dowel l3 thus enabling the vise to be placed upon or removed from the table without entirely removing the fastening-screw l9 from the table during continued use of the vise where the same is frequently removed from and. replaced upon the saw-table, wear or breakage of the dowel I8 may occur such as to require replacement thereof. When this occurs the old dowel is easily removed from the rear end 28 of the base I! after loosening the set screw' 25 and a new dowel secured in place by merely tightening the set screw thereon. Slight wear of the hook portion 23 of the dowel may be compensated for by setting the dowel slightly higher in the lug 20.

Near the front and rear ends, respectively, of the base I? are upwardly extending lugs. 28 and 29 having aligned openings through which the tension rod 39 is fitted and adapted to have sliding movements with respect thereto, said rod being provided with a screw-driver bit 29' fol-facilitating assemblage of said rod with its head.

The tension rod 30 is provided with said head 3! and a spring 32 bears against said head and between it and the lug 28. A lug 32 is formed integral with the base I! and provided with a threaded bore which is in alignment with the tension rod 32', said bore having a set screw 33 which bears against said head 3| at times, whereby said spring is held under compression at times when said head abuts against said screw, the degree of compression may be regulated by the adjustment of said screw during said times. The spring 32 normally holds the head 3| in engagement with the end of the set screw, but enables the rod 38 to be moved forwardly by any force which is greater than the initial pressure of the spring 32 upon the head 3|.

As best shown in Figure 6, the forwardly positioned lug 29, carried by the base I7, is provided with a slot 34 which has received therein a guide bar 35 of rectangular shape in cross section and carried by the slidable and adjustable jaw or jaw-bar 36, the lug functioning as-a, guideolock for said slidable jaw and having a step-cut portion 31 for membering with the reinforcing flange 48 of said jaw. The guide-block-lug 32 is" provided with a T-shaped head as shown in Figure '7 for receiving the guide-bar 35, the latter extending the entire length of the slidable jaw and also cooperating with a guide rail 38 having a projection for interfittingwith one side of the T-shaped head of the guide-block 32'. It will be understood that the guide rail 38- is also secured to the slidable jaw 35 but extends only substantially one-half the length thereof. The said guide-bar and guide-rail are secured to the slidable jaw by any suitable means such as rivets or the like, the arrangement of parts, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, of the guide-rails and blocks is such that the slidable jaw 36 may have longitudinal sliding movements with respect to the guidelugs 32 and 29, but is prevented from lateral or vertical movements with respect thereto.

The slidable jaw-bar of the vise, as shown in Figure 7, is provided with a horizontally disposed portion, a vertically disposed portion 39 and a ferrule 40 comprising a substantially inverted L shaped member in cross section.

Substantially mid-way between the length of 5 the slidable jaw-bar a toggle-block 4! is secured thereto by any suitable means such as the screws or keepers 42. On the toggle-block 4!, at the rear end thereof, is an integral upwardly extending lug 43 to which one end of a toggle-link 10 44 is pivotally secured by means of a pin 45. Said toggle-link extends forwardly from the lug 43 and the forward end of the link is connected by a pivot pin 46 with the head 41 of an operatinglever, the latter comprising said head and a rod 15 or handle 48 extending rearwardly therefrom. To a portion of the head 41, which extends forwardly from the link 44, the clutch-block 49 is connected pivotally by any suitable means such as a pin 50.

From said pin 59 the clutch-block extends down- 20 wardly through an elongated aperture 59' formed through the horizontally disposed portion of the L-shaped slidable jaw-bar 36, the sides of the block fitting loosely between the side walls of the said elongated aperture, and the lower portion of 25.

the block has a bore 3% through which the tension-rod 30 passes, as best shown in Figure 8.

A coil spring 5! has one of its ends connected with a protruding portion of the pivot pin and a pin 52 carried by the head 4? of the operating- 30 lever, so that by the tension of said spring said pins are pulled towards each other and tend to hold the operating-lever in the normal raised position shown in Figure 2. In said raised position of the lever the downwardly curved forward por- 35 tion of the head 41 engages the forward side of the clutch-block 49, and at the same time the rearside of the clutch-block engages the forward side of the toggle-block 4!, whereby upward move ment of the lever is limited and the clutch-block 40 is held in a vertical or released position with respect to the tension rod. In said released position of the tiltable clutch-block, the bore 3!! through the lower portion thereof is aligned with the tension-rod, the lower portion of the clutch-mem 45 her 49 being pulled rearwardly toward the toggleblock by a small coil spring 53, having its ends connected with a pin 54 on the side of the clutchblock and to the lower end of an arm 55 secured to the toggle-block by any suitable means such I as the screw 5%. The arm extends through a suitable aperture provided through the horizontally disposed surface of the L-shaped slidable vise-jar 36.

The forward end of the toggle-block is pro- 55 vided with a downwardly extending abutment 51, positioned through the heretofore mentioned elongated aperture 5&3 of the slidable jaw. The lower end of the abutment 5? is bifurcated, its oppositely disposed half portions being positioned against the sides of the rod 38.

The heretofore mentioned bore through the lower end of the clutch-block, as best shown in Figure 8, is so proportioned that when the same is ali ned with the tension-rod, in the described' released position, the clutch-block may move freely along said rod, and thus the jaw-assembly comprising the clutch-block, the operating lever, the toggle-link, the toggleblocl the rectangular guide-bar 35 and the guide-rail may be freely moved longitudinally of the base If, by pushing forwardly or pulling rearwardly upon the handle of the operating-lever while the same is in the raised inclined position shown in Figure 2. Pushing the handle of the operating lever downwardly, from the raised inclined position tends to straighten the toggle formed by the link 44 and the position of the head 5?, between the pivot-pins 45 and 55, and thus tilt the upper part of the clutch-block forwardly relative to the toggle-block i. Because of the rearward pull of the spring 53 upon the lower portion of the clutchmember 59 the forward movement imparted to the upper portion thereof causes the clutch-block to assume a slightly inclined position, as shown in Figure 3, The bore in the clutch-block through which the tension-rod passes is so proportioned and shaped that in the tilted or inclined position of the clutch-block the end edges of the bore thereof are caused to cramp or bear upon spaced apart portions of the rod and by such releasable locking engagement of the clutch block and tension-rod further relative movement thereof prevented. After first causing the described locking engagement of the clutch-block and tension-rod, further downward movement of the operating-lever tends to push the toggle-block iI. rearwardly, carrying with it the slidable jaw-bar, the guide-bar 35 and the guide-rail 38. When the handle 48 reaches a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3, further downward movement of the operating-lever is prevented by the engagement between the upper side of the toggle-link 44 and the lower side of the head 4! adjacent its junction with the rod or handle 43. In said relation of the parts the toggle device is past dead-center, or so that the pin or keeper 52 is above the pivot pin 50 whereby the spring positioned between the pin or keeper 52 and the pivot pin 55 provides tension and tends to maintain said relation of the parts, in what may be termed a closed or releasable locked position.

As heretofore mentioned the slidable jaw-bar 35 is substantially L-shape in cross section and provided with a reinforcing ferrule or flange 48 thereby providing a rigid construction not susceptible of lateral bending movement mid-way between its ends, said rigidity being essential for consummating work as later described. As best shown in Figure l, the rear end of the horizontal portion of the jaw-bar 36 is step-cut as at 58 and-similarly step-cut, as best shown in Figure 3. as indicated at 59 whereby the L-shape of the jaw-bar 35 terminates in an L-shape of lesser area, as shown in Figure 4, said terminal end 55 being provided with a rugose surface, the ferrure or flange ii; of the main body portion of the slidable jaw 35 being omitted from its terminal end 55. The vertically disposed portion SI of its terminal end 55! being of lesser vertical height than the width of the conventional linotype slugs 62, as shown in Figure 2. As thus described it will be understood that the serrated or rugose surface of the terminal end 55 of the jaw bar presents, by means of the horizontally disposed por tion of said L-shape, a relatively wide jaw-face for co-action with the gauge !2, of which the transverse forward face I3 comprises the fixed jaw of the vise in which the work is held and that said horizontal portion is, in use, disposed above the table top it a sumcient distance to permit the aligning face I6 of the end gauge I5 to be moved under said horizontally disposed portion of said vise-jaw for positioning and gripping lengths of work to be out which are shorter in iength than the width of said horizontally disposed portion.

It will also be understood that in the operation of the mechanism and for trimming of linotype slugs a group of the slugs 52 is disposed upon the table II against the face l3 of the gauge I2, and the end gauge I5 is adjusted to a position such that the left ends of the slugs may engage the gauge-face I6, with the desired portions of the slugs projected beyond the edge M of the saw-table, in position to be out off by the saw I5, when the table top is moved forwardly tocarry the slugs into engagement with the saw. The L-shape of the jaw bar 36, together with its reinforcing flange 50 provide a stiff construction to prevent lateral bending or springing thereof and said flange 40 is also positioned at a sufficient height above the surface of the table top I I, in use, to allow the end gauge I5 to pass beneath it also and to a position at which the face I6 abuts the inner side of the vertically disposed portion 39 of the jaw-bar 36 at desired times. Thus, when the face I6 of the end gauge I5 is moved in register with or against the inner surface of the vertically disposed portion 39 of the slidable jaw-bar 36 the accurate trimming of slugs to a length no greater than the thickness of said vertically disposed portion 35 may be consummated and the end 60 of the jaw-bar is so reinforced as to effectively prevent bending or springing thereof laterally.

In the operation of the vise the end gauge I5 having been set to the desired position for gauging the trimmed length of the slugs, and the latter being in position against the gauge faces 13 and It, the handle 48 of. the operating lever is grasped and the jaw-assembly is pulled rearwardly until the rugose surface 65 or end face of the jaw-bar is lightly engaged with the slugs.

The handle 48 is then pressed downwardly, to first effect the locking connection of the clutch biock with the tension rod and then push the jawbar rearwardly, as before described. The base I? being locked to the table top I I, when the pressure of the jaw-bar against the work exceeds the initial pressure of the spring 32 upon the tension red, the latter moves forwardly sufficient to enable completion of the downward stroke of the lever to the locked position, shown in Figure 3. The work is thus securely held by the vise during the trimming operation thereof, and upon the completion thereof the work is instantly released by raising the operating lever,

Before placing work in the vise, the jaw-assembly is pushed forwardly far enough to provide ample space for insertion of the work between the gauge-face vice-jaw i5 and the terminal end 59 of the slidable vise-jaw; whereupon the operating lever is grasped and the jaw assembly is positioned, as shown in Figure whereby the work is lightly engaged by the jaws of the vise, the handle at this tin e being in a raised position, said handle when pressed downwardly locks the work within the vise, the amount of pressure exerted upon the work between the jaws of the vise being determined by the amount of pressure provided by the spring 32. As shown in Figure 2, the spring 32 is in an extended or released position and at this time the head 35 of the pressure rod abuts against the adjusting screw 33 and, as shown in Figure 3, said head is moved away from said adjusting screw, the spring 33 being compressed and the pressure rod 89 having been slidably moved through its guides 28 and 29, its end, provided with the screw driver bit, being extended past said lug guide 28, as shown in Figure 8. At this time the pressure bar 35 and the clutch block 59 are releasably locked together on account of the clutch-block having been moved to an inclined position incident to the downward movement of the lever 48. At this time the slidable jaw bar 36 and the pressure rod being locked together, the spring 32 being com- ='essed and exerting a pressure rearwardly upon e head 35 of the rod 39, said pressure is trans- -rred to the work or the linotype slugs 62 through the lidable jaw 35.

It will be noted that the set screw 33 may be rotated and adjusted by the use of a screw driver for selectively positioning the set screw for limiting the rearward travel of the pressure rod 383 when the head of said rod strikes the abutment or screw as illustrated in Figure 2. The pressure of the spring being transferred to the work through the jaw-bar 3'6 a means for regulating the degree of said pressure is obviously of great advantage, it being understood that the type metal or work is comparatively fragile whereby too great a pressure would tend to mutilate or crush the work' Also the adjustment of the tension of the spring 32 which governs the firmness of grip applied to the work between the movable and stationary jaws of the vise also determines the amount of force which must be manually applied to the lever 58 for causing a downward movement of the latter for locking t -e work in the vise and it will be understood that by the means described that when the adjustment of the spring 32 is correct the lever 53 may be readily moved downward without undue manual whereby the work may be readily clamped between or released from the jaws of the 'vise without mutilation of said work.

As best shown in enlarged detail in Figure 5, the horizontally or transversely disposed portion of the inverted L-shaped terminal end of the jaw is adapted to bear against the linotype slug 62 for preventing twisting or turning movements of the latter and holding the slug firmly clamped whether it be positioned to produce long or short .cut off portions of the slug and, as shown in said figure, the slug is of ribbed type having a comparatively thin longitudinal portion and reinforcing ribs, said slug nevertheless being susceptible of mutilation by too great a pressure between the jaws of the vise in instances where the tension of the spring 32 is not properly adjusted.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2, the set screw 33 may be rotated for providing an initial degree of compression to the spring 32, the latter being further compressed when the lever 38 is moved downwardly for the purposes mentioned.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. An adjustable vise jaw for a saw table top comprising in combination an elongated base member provided with a plurality of aligned guide-lugs removably clamped to said table top, an elongated movable vise-jaw-bar of inverted L-shape in cross section mounted to slide on said guidelugs, said jaw-bar having a vise-jaw arranged for engagement in both a horizontal and vertical direction against work positioned on the table top, the horizontal portion of said vise-jaw disposed above the table top sufficient to permit sliding movements of the work aligning gauge thereunder for positioning and gripping of the vise work of lesser length than said horizontal portion, a work tension-rod provided with a tensionspring mounted to slide on two of said guidelugs, a toggle-block having an abutment mounted upon said jaw-bar, a toggle device carried by the toggle-block, a tiltable clutch-member associated with said toggle-device having a bore through which said tension rod is disposed, said abutment providing a fulcrum for aligning the clutch-member at times, means reciprocable in vertical directions for actuating said toggle-de vice and clutch-member, a spring for drawingsaid clutch-member toward said abutment, a second spring extending from the toggle-block to said toggle-device for maintaining the bore of the clutch-member in a normal aligned disengagement with respect to the tension rod, and means for adjusting the tension-rod-spring for regulating the degree of pressure applied to work by said movable jaw at times when said actuating means is moved toward said jaw-bar.

2. An adjustable vise jaw for a saw table top comprising in combination an elongated basemember provided with a plurality of aligned guide-lugs removably clamped to said table, an elongated vise-jaw-bar mounted to slide in register with said guide-lugs, a toggle-block mounted upon said jaw-bar, a toggle-device carried by the toggle-block, an adjustable work-tension-rod mounted to slide on two of said guide-lugs, a tiltable clutch-member pivotally carried by said toggle-device having a bore through which said tension-rod is loosely disposed in initial alignment therewith, reciprocable means including an operating lever for actuating said toggle-device and clutch-block, a spring carried by the toggleblock and extending to the clutch-member adjacent the bore thereof for drawing said member toward said toggle-block, and a second spring extending from the toggle-block to said toggledevice for normally maintaining said lever in an initial position away from said jaw-bar and simultaneously maintaining the clutch-member in a position of normal disengagement with respect to the tension rod, whereby upon said operating-lever being moved towards said jaw-bar the clutch-member becomes tilted causing oppO- spaced apart portions of the tension-rod and releasably lock the latter with said clutch-member, a continuation of said movement of said lever causing an end of the elongated vise-jaw to move away from said clutch-member and exert a predetermined gripping force on work placed between the jaws of the vise, a completion of said lever movement causing said second spring to releasably maintain the lock between the tension-rod and clutch-member, the degree of said gripping force being governed by the adjustment of said tension-rod.

3. An adjustable vise jaw comprising a stationary base, a movable jaw, means for slidably mounting said jaw on the base, a pressure lever, a lever locking link pivoted at one end to said lever and having the opposite end slidable on said mounting means and so formed that rocking of said link from a vertical position will lock said link relative to the base, a jaw moving link secured at one end to said jaw and at the opposite end to said lever, and a spring connected to the (0 jaw and the lever in such a manner as to hold the lever in either clamping or released position.

GUSTAF E. WALLIN. 

